Fruit, small, two inches broad and about the same in height; roundish, and a little flattened. Skin, pale greenish-yellow, but so entirely covered with dark grey russet as to leave none of the ground color visible, except that portion exposed to the sun, which is dark redish brown. Eye, large and closed, set in a wide and rather shallow basin. Stalk, about an inch long, sometimes obliquely inserted, by the side of a fleshy prominence, in a wide and shallow cavity. Flesh, greenish-white, firm, rich, sugary, and highly perfumed with the flavor of anise or fennel.
An excellent dessert apple; in use from November to January.
The tree is a small grower, but an abundant bearer, and requires a warm and rich soil to have the fruit in perfection.
124. FILL-BASKET.—H.
Fruit, medium sized, two inches and a half wide, and the same in height; conical, round at the base, flattened at the apex, and distinctly angular on the sides. Skin, pale dull greenish-yellow on the shaded side, and streaked with broken patches and pencilings of pale red, where exposed to the sun, the whole covered with russety dots. Eye, closed, as if drawn together or puckered, placed level with the flat crown, and with a small knob or wart at the base of each segment. Stalk, three quarters of an inch long, thickest at the insertion, and placed in a small, round, and shallow cavity, which is surrounded with dark brown russet. Flesh, greenish-white, tender, juicy, and acid, with a brisk and pleasant flavor.
An excellent culinary apple, extensively grown in the neighbourhood of Lancaster, where it is highly esteemed; it is in use from October to January.
This, which may be called the Lancashire Fill-basket, is very different from the Kentish variety of that name.
125. FLANDERS PIPPIN.—H.
Fruit, medium sized, three inches wide, and two and a quarter high; oblate, and marked on the sides with ten distinct angles, five of which are more prominent than the others. Skin, pale green, changing to pale greenish-yellow as it ripens, and occasionally tinged with a cloud of thin dull red on the side exposed to the sun, and thinly strewed with a few dots. Eye, closed, with long and downy segments, set in a narrow and ribbed basin. Stalk, from half-an-inch to an inch in length, slender, and inserted in a deep funnel-shaped cavity, which is lined with russet. Flesh, white, tender, and marrowy, juicy, and briskly flavored.
A culinary apple of second-rate quality; in use during October and November.